In the introduction of his book, Galloway makes an analogy between historical periods, machines and network topologies. Galloway distinguish three computer network topologies:
"A centralized network consists of a single central power point (a host), from which are attached radial nodes. The central point is connected to all of the satellite nodes, which are themselves connected only to the central host. A decentralized network, on the other hand, has multiple central hosts, each with its own set of satellite nodes. A satellite node may have connectivity with one or more hosts, but not with other nodes. Communication generally travels unidirectionally within both centralized and decentralized networks: from the central trunks to radial leaves."
In distributed networks "Each point [...] is neither a central hub nor a satellite node - there are neither trunks nor leaves. "The network contains nothing but "intelligent end-point systems that are self-determinitic, allowing each end-point system to communicate with any host it chooses.""
Citing Deleuze, the author compares these topologies to types of machines and forms of control used by sovereign, disciplinary and control societies. "The old sovereign societies worked with simple machines, levers, pulleys, clock; but recent disciplinary societies were equipped with thermodynamic machines...; control societies function with a third generation of machines, with information technology and computers."
Galloway, Alexander R. Protocol: How Control Exists after Decentralization. Pag. 11, The MIT Press, 2004
